(Closed) Would you ask salary?

Little back story, I’ve been looing for the last 7 months for a new job, my company moved my office to a different location. I spend about 4-6 hours a day commuting and I just can’t do it anymore. However, I also make an okay salary compared to what I’ve been seeing in the job market and I can’t just up and leave for whatever comes along. My company also doesn’t know I am looking so it’s been very hard to interview being that I live 2 hours from where I work and I’m looking for work near where I live.

I got a call back from a job today that is a few towns over from where I live! yay! However, there is no salary posted and the position sounds a bit entry level so I’m inclined to assume it doesn’t pay what I am making or even close.

My thing is this, I can’t keep taking off and going in late for jobs that aren’t in my target, I know it’s never a good thing to bring up salary before an interview but would be terrible if when I called back I simply asked and explained that I don’t want to waste their time or my time if it’s not a fit salary wise??

Okay, honest thought is that this is a known faux pas. I even remember learning about it in my senior seminar in college. However, we all know life sometimes dictates our decisions for us. I would just go in for the interview if it’s something you think you might get/want to do. Salary cuts suck, but so do long commutes. For me, I’d take a small salary cut for a shorter commute.

I also understand that you can’t keep taking off from your current job, but if it’s important to you then it becomes a necessary evil.

Only other option I can think of: I know this may sound weird, but could you get your FI or someone to call up there and inquire about the new position (sans a name) and get a salary ballpark? It doesn’t matter if some random person appears rude, right? Ha.

I don’t know what field you’re in, but would it be appropriate to ask for an initial phone interview and they can call you in if it sounds like a fit? That can be a good time to talk about salary…

If that’s not an option, I’d just start laying the groundwork at your job about some dental work you’re going to need coming up. 😉 If you’re really so far from the office, they’ll understand why you’re in late if you’re having stuff done on your teeth?

haha I like the idea of my DH calling and pretending to “inquire” May sound fishy though as they didn’t post a contact name for the job listing. Sadly they want me to come in for an interview, I wish I could do a phone interview the first round. Such a pain, and AHHHH I already used the teeth thing already! and then wouldn’t you know I ended up having to really get a root canal! Friggin karma!!!!!!!!!

Never ask – you can always turn a job down. I am also the type of person that would take a minor pay cut for a better commute – think of how much money you save in commuting charges (and how much time you get back to take back things you might have had to delegate) for a few dollars a month. That might just be me, though.

FH got a job after the contract on his other moved to another state and it paid less, but now he commutes by bike, gets instant 401(k) vesting, gets periodic reviews (good for raises!) and they’re a good company for reservists (keep your time in for bonuses/promotions counting even when you’re deployed) To him that was worth the minor difference every month – instant matching and vesting is free money!

I work in HR and yes you can ask! At my old company I always asked candidates what they are looking for in the initial phone screen because my old company was a non profit and didn’t pay well- I didn’t want to waste theirs and my time!

HR people can be hesitant to discuss salary on the phone- if they won’t divulge numbers you can always give them the range you are looking for and ask if they are in that range.

HR understands people have different salary requirements. Just be super polite and sound interested in the job and its ok. We get it all the time.

I 100% agree with Leeluu, I work in HR and they probably don’t have a set number they are going to offer you but a range they can give you. Generally it’s not posted just because it can change so much between people with different qualifications and someone with a bachelors degree will get x amount, but then an applicant with a masters degree would receive an offer with xx amount but if you list it online everyone will just see the largest # 🙂 Go for it and ask, they should understand!

Good luck! I can’t even fathom the commute you have to deal with, eek! 🙁

I think it is ok to ask for a salary range, people ask me all the time, if they don’t I tell them what it is so they aren’t surprised later. I’m in non-profit too and maybe that’s just the norm for us as we generally, not always, seem to offer lower salaries.